A Revolution Called Hope

So, I met the most amazing women at BlogHer '08. One of them is a tiny little powerhouse named Square Girl who had a dream about spreading hope throughout the land. Her dream has grown and I would like to propogate it some more right here!

Here's the deal...

One day, she just decides to start leaving notes... everywhere... random places... What did the notes say? Oh just sweet little things like "Go slowly and enjoy the journey" or "Believe in your own happiness" or, my favorite, "No one can take the place of you." Now picture your worst day in the last month. One of those days that you just wanted to throw something. Or yell. Or DID throw something WHILE you were yelling. Now pretend you found one of these notes on your windshield right as you were ready to give up on your day getting any better. God, can you imagine the impact a simple note might have had? How much nicer might you have been to the teller, or the barista, or your kids?

I've listed a few suggested notes in my latest poll. Pick your favorite. But don't stop there. Write it down on a slip of paper. A simple 4x4 piece of paper. Then, go against all your feelings of doubt and put it somewhere for someone to find. Leave the rest up to love.

I hope you have a great week and I hope you spread the hope.

(The picture above belongs to a lovely woman named Stephanie. You can find her at Little Purple Cow Photography.)

Bubble Gum Ice Cream

It's not my favorite flavor... but it definitely reminds me of my favorite story about ice cream. And after all, isn't life just one story after another?

When I was a kid, I belonged to a funky hippy little Blue Bird troupe. It was run by a lady named Cheryl who looked an awful lot like my Kindergarten Teacher, Ms. Bowden and Cher without all the make-up and leather. Sometimes, her friend Popcorn (swear to God) would come and teach us dances like The Hussle in order to earn patches. What can I say... it was the 70s.

We'd occassionally venture out into the world with Cheryl and some of the moms. Because we were a smaller group, we got to go to places that you wouldn't regularly be able to go with a class from school. One trip in particular was to an Ice Cream Shoppe. Big deal, right? Well, we were eight. At that age, ice cream is way more exciting than tar pits with old dinosaur bones. The Ice Cream Shoppe was one of those old-fashioned kind where they made their own ice cream in-house. They also had some really neat flavors that we had never heard of. We walked through the whole place ooh-ing and aah-ing all the way. The final stop of our tour was to try out the newest flavor... Bubble Gum.

I was a shy type and would sometimes not assert myself in group situations. Luckily, I had an equally unassertive friend, Julie. As soon as we were told that we would get a cone, the other girls clamored and clawed to be first in line ignoring the bodily injury that might be caused by such a rush of humanity against plexiglass. My friend and I cautiously stepped aside and quietly went to the back of the line. By the time we got to the front of the line, most of the ice cream was gone.

Our hearts sank...

But wait! What to our wondering eyes did appear? All I could see was a little bit of cream and a whole lot of round colored bits of sweetness... It seems that the density of the gum balls was too much for the ice cream. The majority of the candies had migrated south during the freezing process. So Julie and I got all "neener-neener" on the rest of the troupe. Have your ice cream, we giggled. WE have the GUM!

On the drive home, while the rest of the girls were whining about their tummy aches, Julie and I were all smiley faces as we blew the biggest bubbles you ever saw!

Good things come to those who wait!

I didn't really learn that lesson until much later. At the time, the only lesson I got out of it was that the bottom of the barrel of bubble gum ice cream was the best! These days, I am a supreme fan of Ben & Jerry's Lighten Up version of Cherry Garcia. If, for some crazy reason, a restaurant is serving the not-so-light version, I partake. I mean, how many restaurants (fish restaurant, no less) do you know that serve Cherry Garcia? Seriously?!

So what's your favorite flavor? I'm going to be all (pardon the pun) vanilla on the poll. Just pick your favorite of the list... but do comment on your favorite brand and flavor in the comment section below. Can't wait to hear!

**For my non-blogging friends, just click the comment link, enter your words in the blank pop-up, choose the "name" option, enter your name, then hit "publish." Thanks!

The City

I am on the final countdown to BlogHer! woooo hooooo... I can't wait to go and meet these bloggers in person. I am just going to soak up all that I can. And won't it just be fantastic to be in a room full of people that know what I'm talking about when I say "today's tweet..." But mostly,

I can't wait to go to The City!

A long time ago, for a brief time, I was fortunate enough to have lived in Marin, just across the Golden Gate from The City. Up until then, I had always called it "San Francisco." I also used to say "Trolly" and would never remember to bring a heavy jacket for a summer evening. I even had the gall to order light beer in public. After a few months of sticking out, I began drinking amber ales, left the "Cable Cars" to the brave tourists, bought several beautiful coats, and called it, "The City."

My dream is to one day own a home back up there... once the book deal closes or I win the lotto. Whichever comes first. I just absolutely loved being up there and go back as often as possible. I love walking down Columbus at night. Steam coming up from manholes. Crowded coffee houses. Triple X nudie bars right next to schools... it's just a whole mess of images... and smells... and comforting buzzing noises of a city that is a little seedy, a lot lovely, and totally alive. It feels real and yet magical. Those of you that left your hearts there (haha) know what I mean.

I must admit, however, that I have not yet been introduced to many other American Big Cities. I grew up outside of LA, so been there, done that. But Manhattan? Never. Nashville? Huh-uh. Boston? Nope. Seattle? Seen nothin'! I don't know that any place would ever replace San Francisco, but I would like to visit those cities, as well as so many other intriguing destinations. For now, though... I can't wait to get off the plane at SFO and get some Dim Sum at Yank Sing's!

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What about you? What's your favorite city? Where would you like to visit? There's a poll to the right just begging to be clicked! If you have another destination in mind, something off the beaten path, comment below. Maybe I'll add it to my growing list of places to go.

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